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 Outboard shocks us.		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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Akenumber
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts
Initially Posted - 09/17/2015 :  20:17:11  Show Profile
Kinda weird, but I recently added a charging system to the motor.When it's running and you touch metal on the boat and salt water you can feel quite a bit of current. The charging coil system is a factory kit for a 96 merc 8.0 I am good with electrical and was wondering if anyone has experienced this before I dive in to a full diagnosis. By the way, only when the motor is running.
Ken
San Diego
84 C25 SR/FK 4116
The KRAKEN

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts
Response Posted - 09/17/2015 :  20:56:12  Show Profile
The kit is for a '96 Merc 8--is the motor a '96 Merc 8? What metal on the boat are you touching along with the water? Is that metal connected to your negative bus or to the motor somehow? Does any switch on your panel (the positive side of the circuits) prevent that current when switched off? Does disconnecting either side of the charging cable from the battery stop it? (Don't disconnect it with the motor running.)
Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage before going over to the Dark Side (2007-2025); now boatless for the first time since 1970 (on a Sunfish).
Edited by - Stinkpotter on 09/17/2015 21:04:46
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Akenumber
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts
Response Posted - 09/21/2015 :  18:12:34  Show Profile
I need to do some more investigation. My electrical is pretty clean. And I am pretty sure everything is isolated. I am thinking a defective reg/rectifier. I was hoping someone else knew a simple answer. When I find the problem or more insight I will post. The parts supplier I bought the kit from has very good and knowelegeble customer support, if I find nothing out of the ordinary I will contact them.
Ken
San Diego
84 C25 SR/FK 4116
The KRAKEN
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Akenumber
Navigator

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USA
247 Posts
Response Posted - 09/21/2015 :  18:16:55  Show Profile
As far as metal I want to say the backstay. And you only feel it when the motor is running and you touch salt water and metal. Seems like stray current from the ac side of the charging system itself.
Ken
San Diego
84 C25 SR/FK 4116
The KRAKEN
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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4034 Posts
Response Posted - 09/22/2015 :  07:17:17  Show Profile
This makes no sense to me, There just isn't a direct or indirect connection between the motor and any of the metal(stays, mast,pulpits). There's fiberglass separating all those components. All the lighting on the boat isn't grounded to the metal that the light is attached to but has its own separate ground wire so I doubt its back feeding through the metal. Do you have lightning protection rigged on your boat?
Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound


Edited by - islander on 09/22/2015 07:24:37
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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4316 Posts
Response Posted - 09/22/2015 :  17:59:16  Show Profile
Is it possible it's grounding to the motor frame and then into the water?

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5444 Posts
Response Posted - 09/22/2015 :  18:24:19  Show Profile
Its possible the steaming light or anchor light negative terminal is connected to the metal housing, making the mast connected to the battery negative. Use a continuity meter or ohmmeter to check that. The mystery for me is how the alternator positive terminal would be present anywhere in the cockpit or around the boat.
Do you use shore power to charge your battery? Or to run lights, entertainment centers or galley appliances when on the dock? Also, do you have an inverter hooked up for creating 120VAC for your AC outlets using the house batteries? I sometimes connect an inverter to the battery and run 120VAC in my house outlets to plug in a laptop or TV monitor. I've often thought it ironic if I were shocked by a 120VDC inverter whilst out sailing in my 12VDC world.
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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pastmember
Master Marine Consultant

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2402 Posts
Response Posted - 09/22/2015 :  19:28:02  Show Profile
Bad Plug wire is arcing to case?
Frank Hopper
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5444 Posts
Response Posted - 09/23/2015 :  19:05:17  Show Profile
Frank
That's the first sensible theory I've heard so far...
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5444 Posts
Response Posted - 09/26/2015 :  06:48:11  Show Profile
Here's a thought. Next time you feel the buzz get a digital multi-meter put it on 200 volts AC and touch the two surfaces with the red and black leads if you get no reading then I'm stumped
Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT
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Akenumber
Navigator

Members Avatar

USA
247 Posts
Response Posted - 09/29/2015 :  05:40:25  Show Profile
Will do, thanks for the plug wire idea. Although I don't think it will be a problem. I do have a shore power charger but I don't use it. We are on a mooring. I will also check out the stern light. I think I remember some cracked wires. Like I said though, it started after I added a charging coil to the outboard.
Ken
San Diego
84 C25 SR/FK 4116
The KRAKEN
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9089 Posts
Response Posted - 09/29/2015 :  06:22:13  Show Profile
This is getting mysterious... I can imagine some contact between the AC side of your charging circuit and the chasis of your outboard, but I don't get how that would create a circuit including your rigging. And nobody around your boat wants that current in the water. If you're in a marina in SD, I would think they have a marine electrician on hand who could sleuth that out in a few minutes.
Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage before going over to the Dark Side (2007-2025); now boatless for the first time since 1970 (on a Sunfish).
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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.